The Wellington boot has been at the epicentre of global affairs ever since its invention in 1817, when the Duke of Wellington, freshly back from beating Napoleon, found his old boots most uncomfortable when worn with new-fangled trousers. He instructed his shoemaker to make a simple modification - and the rest is history. The history of the Wellington Boot, told here for the first time, is also the history of the world. It is an epic tale, encompassing the rise and fall of empires, corporate piracy, fetish wear, transatlantic rivalry, and such iconic figures as Christopher Columbus, Beau Brummel, Princess Diana and Kate Moss ...This is entertaining and eccentric history-cum-humour that will appeal to anyone interested in history, trivia or military matters.